Sunday, March 29, 2009

National Aquarium

Yesterday we went to the Baltimore National Aquarium.  It was fun for the most part, but it was a little too crowded for my taste and it took away from the experience, especially with my two-year-old on a leash who kept yelling "it's my turn" whenever anyone was in her way.  haha  Overall it was a good day, but we were all exhausted on our way home.  We went to have lunch with our friend Evan, who Caroline has a huge crush on, before heading back to VA.  Today I am beat and feeling kinda poopy... but I'm pushing through to make my first ever cupcake pops

Check out our only half-way decent picture from the Aquarium yesterday... 

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Middle of the week Pork Tenderloin


This is probably one of my favorite go-to recipes to make during the week or on the weekend.  Not only is it SUPER easy and delicious, but it's also a ton of food to last for lunch and dinner the next day.  Leftovers are perfect to make sandwiches or add to a veggie soup!  This recipe is also so great to make for dinner guests, because it takes little effort, yet it seems fancy.  Just perfect.  It's so delicious and I urge everyone to try it!   

I have tried a combination of different herbs and spices, and though this recipe is great, I do like to add a little bit of dry mustard and seasoning salt to my combination.  Take it or leave it, it's up to you!  

Also, just a tip... I typically buy my pork tenderloins from Costco, because you get two for the price of one at the regular grocery store.  Nothing like a bargain to make a girl happy!  :-)  I'll make one that week and put the other in the freezer to use later.  

Here is the recipe:  

Ingredients: 
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried oregano 
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp dried thyme
Salt (I substitute seasoning salt here.) 
1 1/4 pounds pork tenderloin
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tsp minced garlic 

Directions 

Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. 

In separate bowl mix dry ingredients.  Stir mixture until all the ingredients are well combined and they form a seasoning.  This will be used as a rub to ensure the pork is well seasoned.  Sprinkle the rub over the tenderloin, then rub the pork with the seasoning over both sides of the meat, pressing gently so the seasoning adheres to the tenderloin. 

In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the olive oil and heat.  Add the minced garlic and saute, stirring for 1 minute.  Put tenderloin in the pan and cook for about 10 minutes, searing each side of the meat.  Transfer meat to a roasting pan and bake for 20 minutes.  Slice and serve.  

Thanks to Ellie Krieger from Food Network for the recipe!  Enjoy!  

Saturday, March 21, 2009

My Favorite Musicals


In honor of seeing A Chorus Line tonight with my darling husband, here is a list of my all time favorite musicals... in no particular order.  (This list includes both musicals I've seen on stage and just the movie.)  


1.  My Fair Lady  
2.  Fiddler On the Roof 
3.  Annie 
4.  Showboat
5.  Big River 
6.  A Chorus Line (though until tonight, I've only seen the movie) 
7.  The Music Man 
8.  The Sound of Music 
9.  Mary Poppins (I've never seen the stage version.) 
10.  Beauty and the Beast (same goes with this one...)
11.  Rent (Truthfully, the original cast in '96 is the only one I have been truly mesmerized by.) 
12. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (I was in this one in HS!)  
13. Hairspray (because it's so dang fun!) 
14.  Miss Saigon 
15.  Jesus Christ Superstar 

That was fun... I think I'll make a list of my favorite plays too... 

1.  A Raisin in the Sun - Lorraine Hansberry 
2.  Having Our Say - The Delany Sisters and Amy Hearth 
3.  A Streetcar Named Desire - Tennessee Williams 
4.  MacBeth - duh Shakespeare 
5.  The Crucible - Arthur Miller 
6. Wit - Margaret Edson 
7. Desire Under the Elms - Eugene O'Neill
8. Jake's Women - Neil Simon 
9. A Doll's House - Henrik Ibsen 
10. The Merchant of Venice - Shakespeare 

This was fun! I should do my list of favorites more often...  :-)  Have a great Saturday! 

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Black and White weekend

We've had a very lazy weekend and it's been lovely.  

We've mostly just laid around and done a bunch of nothing.  Thrilling, I know.  :-)  

The clouds and rain have given us an excuse, though.  

That's one thing I love about rain... I don't have to come up with reasons for not going out. 
 
We can just stay in, keep to ourselves and enjoy each other without questions.  

Next weekend, however, I am hoping for perfect weather (or at least no rain), because the hubby and I will be going on my big birthday date!  horray! Saturday night we're actually going out just the two of us!  Courtney, Caroline's regular babysitter's teenage daughter, is going to come over to keep C while Andrew and I have a night on the town!  We're going to dinner at The Dubliner ... SO GOOD! ... and then to see A Chorus Line!  I can't wait!!! 

Until then... 

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Did it really snow a week ago?

This is what we did this weekend... 

Went to the playground... 


Played with sidewalk chalk... 


Played "catch"... 


Took naps with the windows open...


Enjoyed time together... 


And loved every minute of it... 


I LOVE SPRING!  Winter is not allowed to be here anymore (at least not until next year), now that we've had this taste of Spring!  I feel so rejuvenated.  I can't even describe it!  Just being outside with my beautiful family all weekend long, basking in all of God's beauty!  Listening to the birds.  Taking in the few flower buds that are peeking their way out.  Waving hello to our neighbors coming out of their winter hibernation.  It ALL just makes me happy.  I didn't even know how much I needed it, but that's the beauty of our Lord!  He gives us just what we need at just the right time!  Thank goodness!  

Also, Andrew and I watched Fireproof this weekend.  If you haven't seen it and you're a married or engaged couple, I'd recommend it.  The acting wasn't great, but the message was definitely something everyone needs to hear.  It prompted a lot of discussion between Andrew and I, which is always a good thing.  Check it out!  :-)  

Oh... one more thing!  Andrew got me an early birthday present!  YAY!!! We're going to see A Chorus Line at the National Theater on March 21st!  WOO HOO!!! I'm THRILLED!  Do I have the best husband or what?!?! I'd say a big resounding "YES!!!"  

Friday, March 6, 2009

Scout the good sport!

Caroline loves playing dress-up!  She loves to dress and undress herself, but she also finds it amusing to put clothes and accessories on her dolls or me or Daddy... or even better, our kitty Scout.  


Scout loves Caroline and she is such a good sport!  It cracks me up to see how much Scout will let Caroline do to her.  Don't you just love her pink necklace and that teal scarf!  It's just perfect with your fur tone, Scouty!  Work it girl!  :-)  

This weekend will bring TONS of outside time!  woo hoo!!!!  70's is the kind of March I'm talking about!  

Monday, March 2, 2009

I needed to wake up to see this...

After the longest week ever, that was last week,  a snow day on a Monday was a much needed relief!  


Caroline was excited for about 10 minutes... until she fell... then she was done.  


But she's so darn cute!  


Even my handsome hubby got in on the snow day action! woo hoo! 

I fear that tomorrow we will have school, but it's been nice while it lasted!  I definitely did not expect a three day weekend, leaving school on Friday.  So, this was very welcome!  

Tonight, I'm making Pioneer Woman's Best Lasagna. Ever.  Drool! Let's hope it turns out as good as all the reviewers claim!  I am replacing the hot sausage with regular sausage for Caroline's sake.  Yeah... yeah... I know what you're thinking...  well, diet, schmiet.  I'll talk to you again about that when winter's over.  :-)  For now, I will eat cheese and pasta and meat and I will be happy and content.  So, there!